Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees was 65.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Nigeria, 2000–2025
Source: Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 65.0% for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in 2025.
The figure is down 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Nigeria peaked at 74.0% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 62.9%, in 2000.
That places Nigeria 10th out of 150 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 62.9% | — |
| 2005 | 74.0% | +17.6% |
| 2010 | 72.9% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 69.3% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 73.8% | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 65.0% | -11.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 65.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 40.2%, 1.6× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 65.0% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.0%, 1.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 68.5% | 62.9% | 74.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 71.1% | 69.3% | 72.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 69.4% | 65.0% | 73.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 7 Sri Lanka 72.4% compare
- 8 Liberia 66.2% compare
- 9 Philippines 65.2% compare
- 11 Dominican Republic 64.6% compare
- 12 Saint Lucia 64.4% compare
- 13 Paraguay 60.8% compare
More social development data for Nigeria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 123,848 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 4 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.002 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 478,150 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0005 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Nigeria?
- Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees in Nigeria was 65.0% in 2025, according to Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 74.0% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.9% in 2000.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees?
- Nigeria ranks 10th out of 150 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of prisoners that are pre-trial detainees. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Pre-trial detainees and remand prisoners as a percentage of the total prison population.